Socceroos face withdrawals

Striker Mark Viduka and midfielder Scott Chipperfield are likely to be among the big-name absentees when Socceroo coach Frank Farina next week names his squad for the international against Venezuela, scheduled for mid-February.

But national team captain Paul Okon will be hoping that his move to Belgian second-division side FC Oostende will be enough to secure him regular games and ensure he retains his place in the Socceroo line-up.

Okon has worn the skipper's armband and been a regular fixture in Farina's selections ever since the coach took charge of the team in 1999.

But his failure to win a regular spot at any of the clubs he has played with in recent years has had the critics calling for Farina to dump him and pin his faith in a younger man, either Australia's star player, Harry Kewell, or Glasgow Rangers defender Craig Moore. Okon moved to Italian second-division side Vicenza at the start of this season after Leeds's then boss, Peter Reid, made it clear he had no place for him. The 31-year old was struggling for a game in Italy, and switched to the second-placed side in the Belgian second division over the weekend.

His Australian-based manager, Leo Karis, yesterday said Okon was committed to playing for Australia and trying to take the Socceroos to the World Cup.

"Oostende are near the top of the Belgian second division, they are looking for promotion and they are an ambitious club," Karis said. "Paul has an arrangement with them until the end of the season, playing in the sweeper role."

Farina yesterday emphasised he would pick the strongest squad "available" for the clash with the South Americans in Caracas, but the keyword for the coach is "available".

Many of the youngsters from the Olyroos, who have qualified for the Olympics, would be happy to play, as would a number of fringe internationals.

They might yet get their chance as the rumour mill suggests that many senior Socceroos, including Kewell, might not be available through a combination of injury, travelling schedules, domestic issues and a packed schedule of matches.

Farina yesterday admitted that Viduka was a question mark, as was Swiss-based former Wollongong Wolves star Scott Chipperfield, whose wife is expecting a baby about the time of the match.

Viduka has spent weeks in Melbourne at the bedside of his ill father Joe, and is well short of match fitness.

He has not played since he left England in early January.

"Mark is a very important player for us. Scotty Chipperfield's wife is due around that time. But we are looking at naming our best available squad," Farina said.